The Gift List: It's the Little Things

The other day I was looking for something underneath the kitchen sink. When I reached all the way in the back corner, I retrieved a bottle--a bottle of sherry to be exact. It had been there from the last time my dad had visited more than seven years ago. I had to chuckle. My dad loved his sherry. I haven't parted with the bottle yet. It just makes me smile every time I look it. Sometimes it's the little things.

Still adding to my gratitude list: 

#71-#90

71. My little six year old giggling in his sleep

72. Big brothers who protect and love their baby sister

73. Holy Spirit conviction guiding me into all truth

74. A husband who loves his kids

75. The call to intercessory prayer

76. And carrying every burden to the Lord in prayer

77. Finding two normally bickering brothers snuggled in one bed after bedtime

78.  Happy squeals from baby girl when she sees her brothers at the end of the day

79. Our pastor back in church after a bad accident

80. Praying scriptures over my babies

81. My six year old exclaiming "Mommy, you look pretty!"

82. Dinner plates scraped clean

83. The power that comes with the gift of the Holy Ghost and speaking in tongues

84. This little girl of mine coloring and humming.

85. And pretending to read.

86. Inside jokes between brothers

87. Good morning smiles from baby girl.

88. My momma's face when she sees her grandchildren.

89. Loose front teeth on my six year old

90. Happy siblings playing in the backyard.

The Gift List: Counting Blessings

And the gratitude list continues.

Counting blessings instead of problems.

#51-70

51. Silly smiles, swings and sunshine.

52. The joy and laughter (and good food) at family gathering.  

53. Stones being revived from heaps of rubbish Nehemiah 4:2

54. The boys first surfing trip with Daddy.  

55. Hearing baby girl's giggles down the hall as I pick her up from Children's Church.  

56. Seeing the boys sing their hearts out at their school's spring musical.  

57. And watching my kindergartner bow after every single song. 

58. My grandmother's pecan praline recipe.

59. Visiting with my 92-year-old great aunt

60. Flipping through old photo albums.

61. Edifiying myself. 

62. Stacks of neatly folded clothes.

63. Standing in the gap. 

64. Teachers who encourage and care for my children.

65. Healthy kids after two weeks of sickness.

66. A text from my cousin in the middle of the work day that has us both laughing out loud.

67. A promise I'm clinging to. 

68. Aunt Mary's pound cake.

69. A sister who is invaluable.

70. The growing stack of books to read on my nightstand.

What's on your gratitude list today?

The Gift List: I'll Always Love My Momma

My mom & I being silly at San Francisco's Land's End Lookout above Sutro Baths

There's nothing more frightening than getting a call that your mother is in the ER. That happened this week. The culprit: a blood clot in her leg. She's being treated and is well but it still rocked me to the core. Having lost my father nearly 5 years ago to cancer, the thought of losing my mother is downright scary.

This is not the first scare with my mother. Almost 20 years ago, she had a heart attack and the doctors worked on her until they said there was nothing more to be done. But a nurse said my mother was too young to be left for dead and urged the doctor to keep working. I'm so grateful for that nurse.

Right now I'm grateful for my mother. Grateful for the month of May that marks her birthday and brimming with gratitude for:

#31-50

31. Little boys who fall asleep to worship music.

32. And audio Bible stories.

33. Friendships that span 30 years.

34. Cousins who are like siblings.

35. Seeing my husband kiss and love on our children.

36. A church home where the gifts of the Holy Spirit flow freely. 

37. A firm foundation.

38. Facetiming with my mother every day.

39. Brownies warm out of the oven.

40. My 6-year-old telling me he's going to love me forever. 

41. Still in the book of Ruth: a reminder that famine, death & grief can be replaced with life, blessings and sweet redemption.

42. 95 degree weather.

43. "To walk in the cool of the day with You/To gaze on the beauty of all You do/To meditate on Your glorious splendor/I was made for you."

44. Little boys who kneel in prayer.

45. My kindergartner's teacher call to check on her student at home.

46. Nutella and pretzels.

47. A good night's sleep.

48. Saturday night church.

49. Friends who pray and walk along the stony road with me.

50. Sweet watermelon in season.

What are you grateful for?

A Hug and Thank You: Gratitude Continues

As a mother, I don't do things for my children because I'm looking for a thank you. I simply do it out of love. I will spend money on them for clothes and shoes before myself because I want them to look good more than they even care. I spend time meal planning and buying snacks, not because they ask but because I want their tummies to be full before they grumble. I wash clothes and make sure clean towels are ready at hand all without a second thought. In the middle of the night, I pull blankets over them that they've kicked off. I pray over them as they sleep just because of love. 

Sweet childhood memories revisited with a trip to the grocery store

The other day, my six-year-old hugged me and thanked me for the "delicious dinner" out of the blue. Unexpected thank you's from them are lovely and make my heart glad. I'm sure this is how God feels when I thank Him for little things that most take for granted.

Taking time to hug the Heavenly Father and thank Him for:

#21-30

21. Stumbling upon small Coke bottles today and remembering my grandfather who would have one for me ready after school every day.

22.  Finding myself in the book of Ruth.

23.  Books of every stage around the house opened and flipped through.

24. My 10-year-old reading scripture before bedtime.

25. #DearLostMe on repeat...

26. A 6-year-old big brother who offers to "braid" his baby sister's hair.

27. A husband who loves when I'm unloveable.

28. Sufficient grace + trading my weakness for God's strength. 

29. That stone that was rolled away.

30. Remembering Daddy 4 1/2 years later...and smiling.

Getting Back to Gratitude

Somewhere in SoCal

Lack of gratitude is an ugly thing.  

Have you ever done something kind for a stranger only to be left without a thank you or any acknowledgement?  It sucks. Not because you were doing the act for the thanks but because they couldn't see an act of kindness worthy of thanks. 

Lately I've been finding ingratitude seeping into my heart in ugly ways. I can't see the beauty in my own life for looking at what's shiny and beautiful in others' lives. 

Recently my oldest son has been showing signs of ungratefulness. I got fed up with reminding him of all he has and gave him an assignment: write down everything he's thankful for. The first few days took some prodding. Then he got it. He jotted down such simple things. Things that are easy to be grateful for but are often overlooked.

In an effort to combat the discontent creeping up in my life, I'm dedicating myself to getting back to gratefulness. I will be counting out gifts of grace from God to me to remind me of all that's shiny and beautiful right in my own life.

#1-20

1. Southern California sunsets
2. Little toddler arms wrapped around my neck with love
3. Morning good-bye kisses from my kindergartner at school drop-off
4. Three giggling siblings
5. Warm showers
6. Clean crisp sheets
7. Leftovers for next day's lunch
8. Daily calls from my momma
9. Sweet cards from sweet friends in the mail
10. Thanks in song from one of my favorites
11. God's written Word in my hand
12. The beauty of kate spade
13. Spring in the air
14. All my babies asleep
15. Blessed quietness
16. The Prayer Room
17. Towels fresh out of the dryer
18. Kneeling in prayer
19. "But God's not finished. He's waiting around to be gracious to you. He's gathering strength to show mercy to you."
20. Saturday night church service.